Though her latest film Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara has not really set the cash registers ringing across the country, Ekta Kapoor has been leaving no stone unturned to boost her film€™s fate. So much so that the producer even flew down to Rajasthan last week to meet a group of people who call themselves Shri Rajput Karni Sena and had threatened to stall the release of her film there.
According to sources, the bone of contention seemed to be Ekta€™s television show that had managed to draw the ire of locals for alleged misrepresentation of Empress Jodha in her ongoing soap Jodha Akbar. A source says, €œIt was only after Ekta promised to change the title of the show to Akbar that the group withdrew their threat. She apparently also agreed to change the names of certain characters on the show to appease the protestors.€
Though the soap€™s name is yet to be officially changed, a unit hand tells us, €œThe show has faced a lot of opposition in Rajasthan ever since it has gone on air. But with Ekta intervening, the matter will be resolved soon. The channel folk and the production team met on this issue a couple of days ago. They have apparently decided to now change the entire storyline.€
If rumours are to be believed, the show could be altered to have a fictional storyline and bear no resemblance to the Mughal emperor and his Hindu bride. The official spokesperson of the channel says, €œEkta has taken some time to sort out the issue. The channel and the production team are yet to take a final call. May be in the next few days...€ Ekta remained unavailable for comment.
What€™s in a name?
Though several filmmakers have had to give in to demands to alter the title of their films, there have not been too many instances on TV yet. But recently, a fiction show titled Gurbani had to face the wrath of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib. The makers later altered the show€™s title to Bani.
Udne Ki Aasha
